CH 23

“Since Carlton currently has complete jurisdiction, we need to recruit his assistance,” Luisen said.

“That man knew the village’s situation. One order from his lips could refill the warehouses or bring in harvested wheat from the fields. Yet he chose to stay still and do nothing. My lord, what do you think that means?”

“That Carlton’s help will solve all our problems?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“I know. You meant that it’s unlikely he’ll extend a helping hand. However, that does not mean I can simply back down.”

“That’s true, but….”

“I’ll deal with Sir Carlton, so you all should gather the people. Make a plan to rescue the people of the lower village immediately once permission is granted.”

“Will Sir Carlton allow us to gather the villagers?”

“If any of his men stop you, drop my name. I received his permission.”

“Will it truly be alright?” The general looked anxious. Could they really do as Luisen said? What recourse would they have if their actions brought more trouble?

“I personally persuaded Sir Carlton to prepare for the locusts. I’ll find a way, somehow. Don’t worry.” Perhaps that was stretching the truth, but Luisen furtively swept reality under the rug. At this time, it was more important to show confidence to his people and to reassure his general and the other retainers.

“It’s for our innocent people. Even if you bear any grudges against me, please think of them.” Luisen bowed his head deeply. The sight shook the general’s composure.

Luisen, at six, lost his parents to an infectious epidemic that ravaged the territory. The couple struggled day and night for their people and eventually succumbed to the same disease they had so desperately fought. In the end, the plague was quickly quelled by the foundations his parents had laid; it was a noble and honorable death befitting the rulers of the duchy.

As a result, Luisen had become a lord at such an early age.

On the day of his duke and duchess’ funeral, the general hugged the young lord and vowed to protect him for life. He had raised Luisen with all his overprotective heart, worried that the young lord would get hurt or become spirited away if without supervision. However, such sheltering turned Luisen into an incorrigible brat. The general couldn’t help but be disappointed and despondent at his behavior.

Even so, Luisen was his dearly beloved lord.

The person whom he had nurtured with every fibre of his youth’s affections and devotions.

There was only one answer possible for the general when such a lord asked for his help.

“I will obey your orders, my lord.” The general bowed deeply to Luisen.

‘With the general’s aid, the remaining work will fall into line quite nicely.’ Luisen smiled with relief. ‘Now if only I can manage to persuade Carlton…’

Vowing to obtain his permission at all costs, Luisen left the room.

****

As Luisen met with the general in his room, Carlton found his way to the general’s office. This office contained almost all of the estate’s administrative documents.

Carlton searched for a document that authorized the seizure of rations and food supplies for the war. He was certain the retainers wouldn’t be so bold as to commandeer property without the lord’s explicit permission. There was bound to be some official statement.

Just from looking at the office, Carlton could tell that the general was a competent individual. All of the paperwork had been systematically organized, and Carlton quickly found what he was looking for.

After quickly leafing through the papers, he found the desired document with the Duke of Anies’ signature clearly demarcated at the bottom.

He briefly glanced at the document, and though the signature was messy due to the urgency of the situation, it was undoubtedly Luisen’s.

‘What’s this…So he did sign off on it.’ A corner of Carlton’s heart chilled.

While touring the village together, Carlton had been observing the lord’s expressions. His pale face had revealed apparent shock and confusion.

So, Carlton had expected foul play.

As Luisen had no real power in his duchy and the retainers’ influence was strong, Carlton wondered if the retainers had committed the deed without Luisen’s knowledge.

But that obviously wasn’t the case. The seizure was something Luisen himself had allowed.

‘So you truly didn’t know? If you’ve lied, I won’t let this go.’

Had he been pretending when he’d trembled and so desperately clung onto Carlton’s back? Had he been lying when he said he wanted to fully survey the village’s crisis?

Carlton kicked the desk, and a loud noise reverberated throughout the room. He felt unpleasantly irritated.

‘Once again, a noble has proven he is nothing more than the other bottom-feeding nobles out there. Yet, why am I feeling so disappointed?…I was just briefly fooled by his face. I’m just angry that I’ve once again been deceived by another aristocrat. That’s it.’

Carlton tried to justify the unpleasant feeling within his heart. ‘It’s his face that’s the problem…that face…’

One of Carlton’s men came to see him as he was venting his anger on the innocent desk. “Um….Boss?”

They had originally scattered to search for Luisen and had just returned to the castle after hearing news of his safe arrival. A representative had come to find Carlton in order to hear his next orders.

“Let’s go.” Carlton turned and left as if nothing had happened. The subordinate, used to Carlton’s fits of temper, followed his captain out of the office.

“What happened to the village?” Carlton asked as they walked down the hall.

“It’s been roughly sorted out. They’re only villagers; they all scattered on their own when the soldiers arrived. So, there was no big conflict–I could only catch those who were unable to run away and placed them in prison.”

“We’ll only hold them for a brief while. Release them tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.”

After thinking, Carlton added, “And prepare a meal for them.”

“Yes,” the subordinate answered. “Ah! I believe the duke’s servant was caught in the commotion and has also been captured. Won’t it be an issue if the duke’s servant is held in custody?”

“That guy?”

Carlton recalled his interactions with Luisen’s attendant. Pompous bastard–he constantly looked condescendingly at Carlton from behind his master. Though he seemed quite slick and compliant, his uniquely arrogant expression had distorted his face such that his appearance did not shine.

That man had gotten on Carlton’s nerves plenty of times. Though he was angry at the servant for openly disdaining him and his men, the duke’s servant was not someone he could easily touch.

“Is he an impersonation?” Carlton said.

“What? We’ve identified him.”

“No. I’m afraid that some villagers may be pretending to be the duke’s servant to escape punishment.” Carlton grinned. A duke’s servant could not be contained…but a villager has no such political power and can be left alone. Luisen had angered him, but Carlton felt slightly better while thinking of Ruger, who would surely suffer an uncomfortable night in prison.

“Ah, yes.” The subordinate snickered as he agreed. Everyone knew of Ruger’s arrogant words and actions; among Carlton’s men, there was no one who hadn’t engaged in minor conflicts with the servant.

He didn’t expect for Ruger to wait patiently while sharing a cell with the very villagers he’d fought.

“It’s time for that guy to taste some of the bitterness of the world.”

“People have to suffer a little to live.”

“That’s right.”

‘As expected of our boss,’ the subordinate thought. ‘He never misses an opportunity!’ Once again, Carlton’s men reflected on their deep respect for their captain’s viciousness.

******

Carlton and his subordinate returned to his requisitioned office. All the other senior subordinates had already gathered for a drink, and they were suggesting they set out again tomorrow morning.

At that moment, Luisen appeared, entering the room with firm resolution.

‘It’s not as if he’s some prisoner of war or slave entering enemy lines.’ Carlton didn’t like his attitude.

“I came to tell you something…but I see you’re joined by others. I’ll be waiting outside.”

“No.” Carlton stopped Luisen from leaving. “Just say what you need here.”

“Now?”

The gazes of Carlton’s men pierced Luisen.

Each stare provided tremendous pressure, as each mercenary was twice Luisen’s size. The gazes were neutral, but certainly not good…After all, Luisen was the reason today’s schedule had gone awry.

Luisen did not back down, however. He continued to delve into his grim business, “I’d like to resume distribution to the lower village.”

“No,” Carlton said directly, without giving it a single thought. He’d already thought about the answer to this question.

“I need to return to the warfront tomorrow. I can’t afford to give attention to this matter. There’s no manpower, time, nor supplies to distribute to the villagers.”

“If we’re short on manpower, then how about using the duchy’s men? The general will be in charge, not me. He’s very reliable, right?”

“I suppose.”

“We’ll gather the necessary foodstuffs ourselves. The portion needed for war compensation won’t be touched.”

Luisen was so insistent that Carlton couldn’t help but to continue questioning the lord. “Unless you gather foodstuffs from outside, you won’t have enough to feed them all, will you?”

In the first place, the village’s granary was requisitioned due to a lack of supplies in the castle. Self-sufficiency, beyond the provisions set aside for the war efforts, was impossible unless the gates were reopened.

“Those gates will never be opened. Don’t even dream about it.”

“I have another way. Would you allow that?”

“I see. But still, I don’t want to,” Carlton replied in a petulant heartbeat.

Luisen still did not back down. “You know the state of the people in the lower village. They’re all sick and starving. If you leave them as is, they’ll die.”

“And so?”

“Those people are innocent. They’ve just gotten tangled in political matters.”

“Perhaps it is also a sin for these ordinary people to meet such a foolish lord. Even if they live hard, their lives are wasted like common house flies at the stroke of a noble’s hand,” Carlton said angrily, pointing out Luisen’s incompetence.

“…Please have mercy on them,” Luisen begged pitifully. But his earnest appearance now looked plastic to Carlton’s indignant eyes.

“Does the duke think I have come to play around?”

“….No.”

“I’ve come to conquer the region, not to serve its people. Why must I show mercy?”